The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-12-29

tho snow buntings, red polls, cross-bills,
pine finches and long spurs came as a part
of the billiards., flurrying like snow fakes
and driven from the polar regions for food
by the intense severity of the weather. The
little mill, wheels in the distance had long
since ceased to grind for want Of water, and
the sparse inhabitants had to pound into
coarse meal what little corn they had re-
naming.
Beaux no longer came to the feet Of Mary;
some climates are too severe for even the
rosiest glamour Of heart-bursting love.
| Game had ceased to approach the clearing,
warned away by the rife Of the log cab
in, and the SHOWS were too deep for the
hardy pioneer to enter the chase, even
though the family starved at home. In
the cabin of the Smiths only mother
and Mary were brave. Marys are always
brave, fearless and hopeful. Show me o
girl of that name and I will pin this state
ment on her shoulder and defy you to take 1T
of. Mary Smith felt the poverty of the
family circumstances, while the men
seemed oblivious to the near starvation of
the family. She saw it months before, and
often left her food untouched that six por-
tions might do for seven. When the family
almost fought for the nearest place to the
fire, she remained in the outskirts of the
circle and gave it her part of the warmth.
Andrew Jackson might have divided his
acorns with his soldiers, but she gave all
her potatoes to her brothers. I despise
your narrow-brained, narrow-hearted So
ciety girl, who takes every thing and re-
turns nothing, who lives in the deluge Of
horses, vehicles, flowers, amusements, din
ners and gifts Of her admirers, returning
only the b~arrenness of her smiles, her ca
prices, her tyranny, her empty thanks, and,
at last, throws her wrecked system on some
poor, deluded man, whom she either drives
to suicide or divorce. Give to me the girl
with her big heart, her big amiabilty, her
big reciprocal capacity and her big sympa-
thetic nature, who can not only receive
every thing, but give every thing. I care
not whether she comes from castle or hovel,
in q chariot. or on foot, with jewels in pro-
fusion or rags in plenty, so that her nature
is broad. I can love her without beauty
and with breadth, but never with beauty
and s~el1shness. Oh, Mary SMITH When
Christmas came the potatoes had disap-
peared, the corn was all consumed, the last
slice of bacon nc more-there was nothing
to eat. The SHOWS beat down fiercely and
the North wind threatened the destruction
OF b cabin, and the river was frozen solid,
and the game seemed buried in the SHOWS
of the forest, and the neighbors were starv-
ing in the distant novels.
What did she do7 Did she moan like the
men, or whine in anguish at the pangs of
hunger, or curse the wilderness for It's bar
rennesss No! not she. Still reigned the
sweetness of her eyes as she smiled, and
tears of sympathy would come stealing
down her cheek when her little brother, the
baby, threw his arms about her neck and
begged piteOusly for bread. It was with
calmness that she spoke when the family
sank down to die in despair: "Fear not;
our Father who feeds the buntings on the
seeds of the wild weeds that are made to
lift their heads above the SHOWS to furnish
them with food will this day give US bread"
It was still early in the forenoon of that
terrible day. The storm was most furious.
The fire sank low in the cabin and no one
made a move to replenish it. A report like
that Of a gun was heard seemingly in the
distance, but failed to arouse the little
group. The next instant all was commotion
and terror. The door burst open and a stag
Of great size partially fell through and lay
dead on the floor. The family stood around
in amazement at this remarkable event,
while the bitter cold wind swept in and
snowfakes shot between the long antlers
Of the stag and struck the faces Of the
Smiths. Mary spoke first:
''This is our Christmas dinner, boys. You
must skin the noble animal while he Is
warm and I will soon have the fire roaring
for his, reception"
"Bur whence came the buck, child" said
the father sternly.
sThat is more than We KIN ow. I Thought
I heard a shot, but if SO, where's the marks
man to claim hiS booty2n .
II too heard a shot, and if the hunter does
not appear before the animal is dressed we
must know the reason why" s.
In a few moments, eager hands had re-
moved the skin sufficiently to secure the
choice portions Of the meat. Meanwhile
Mary kept thinking about the Shot she
seemed to lave heard. She went to the